Maliyekkal Mariyumma

Maliyekal Mariumma was born in 1925 as the daughter of Manjumma and O. V Abdullah, who was a Muslim community leader. Her parents had participated in the Khilafat Movement. She studied English from a convent school at a time when Muslim women were very backward in the field of education.[6] She joined Thalassery Sacred Heart School in 1938, which was run by the nuns in Mangalore and studied up to fifth standard which is equivalent to today's class ten.[7] She was the only Muslim women among the 200 students in the school. Mariyumma went to school until her marriage in 1943.[8] Later, when she became pregnant, she started studying at home and became active in social activities. Mariyumma was also known for speech in English.[9] Mariyumma, who held progressive ideas made some important interventions for the upliftment of women, especially the women among the Muslim community. The Women's Society established under the leadership of Mariyumma worked for the upliftment of women.[10] During her final days, she used to read The Hindu, an English newspaper. She died on 5 August 2022 due to age-related issues.[11]